So this is what happens when good jazz goes terribly awry. Though this
isn't exactly the most extreme or harsh album ever released by the ever-prolific
Jim "Foetus" Thirlwell, it certainly does rank as some of the most edgy
and discomforting. With a gang of like-minded nuts adding various ingredients
to the Steroid soup, Gondawanaland is much like that creepy uncle who every
so often sneaks up behind you yelling, "BOO!" The wide range of musical
elements range from jazz, a bit of industrial, some Herb Alpert Tijuana
Brass, lounge and beyond. Needless to say, it covers a lot of territory
in its mission to pervert your senses. "I Will Love You Always (Wild Irish
Rose)" is the type of thing that is much like fingernails raking a blackboard.
The vocals sound like an eerie ghoul with an ancient voice wooing another
ghost. "Destino Matar" sounds a bit like Spanish bullfighter music while
"Life in the Greenhouse Effect" (which also appears on the other Steroid
release, Quilombo) is compelling and thunderous. Quite frankly, Steroid
represents Thirlwell's most intriguing side and should be explored every
so often to keep yourself from feeling too comfortable.

Track listing:1. ¡Quilombo!
2. Radio raheem

The Bowel of Beelzebub:
3. First Movement: the Trojan Hearse
4. Second Movement: The auctioneer of souls
5. Third Movement: Crawling Goliath
6. Fourth Movement: Erupture